From the Olio
Deceased August 26, 2022
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In Memory
Robert W. “Bob/Ant” Anthony died August 26 in Centerville, Massachusetts, of complications of Parkinson’s disease. Born in Port Chester, New York, Bob attended Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, before attending Amherst. Possessing an infectious sense of humor, Bob had a great tenor voice that enlivened many concerts with the Glee Club and the DQ.
A 1965 graduate of the General Theological Seminary in New York City, “Father Bob” was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1966 and served parishes in West Haven, Connecticut; Westfield, Massachusetts; and Westerly, Rhode Island. After embarking on his Cape Cod semi-retirement, he became interim priest at four churches, fully retiring in 2021.
Bob was married to Mary Ann (Lytle) Anthony (Mt. Holyoke ’64) for 58 years. They had two sons, David and Jeffrey (named after then-politically correct Lord Jeff!) and four grandchildren, three of whom are living. Bob and Mary Ann sang together in several groups.
Bob loved life and people. Destined to be “a man of the cloth,” he had an impish side. Tim Evers ’62 remembers skinny-dipping with his wife and Bob and Mary Ann behind their family cottage on Cape Cod. Larry Beck ’62 remembers Bob joining him and the Smith Amherst Chamber Singers for a 1961 European tour and becoming the group’s lead cheerleader.
Skip Friedrich ’62 says, “My memories of Bob began when we showed up to Pratt pool freshman year for the swimming team. Bob was a known commodity to Coach Dunbar who had followed him at Moses Brown. I was a walk-on. As it evolved, Bob and I competed head to head all season in 50- and 100-yard freestyle. Any concern I might have had about invading Bob’s domain were unnecessary. Our competition became the basis of a friendship which continued for four years as swimmers, roommates and fraternity brothers. We pledged Phi Gam and roomed together sophomore year. We had a corner room in North College, which I revisited at Reunion this past June, not knowing Bob was ill. I should have surmised. It was unlike him not to answer to the call of a Reunion. We could always rely on him as choregus and pastor at large for the ’62 flock.
“Rooming with someone through the joys, challenges and experimentation of college years, you get some insight into a person. You get to know what makes him tick. As a cultural Christian unsure of my faith, I soon realized Bob—surrounded by non-believers—was very clear about his commitment to enter the Episcopal ministry. You had to respect that. Still we joked about him becoming a bishop. Not sure why that did not happen. Maybe because ministering to people was his true and natural calling.”
Singing with Bob, competing with him or living with him, we all have the memory of a friend, jovial and thoughtful, with a good heart and sense of humor, who never lost the devilish spirit of the young boy within him.
Tim Evers ’62, Skip Friedrich ’62 and Larry Beck ’62
